Howard vs. Mahathir -- who's correct?

LOS ANGELES -- In the Asia-Pacific reEgion, there is no uniform view on the Iraq issue. Many support the Bush adminisEtration, while hoping that somehow the war clouds will pass. Only a few are speaking up loudly. From Australia, plain-spoken Prime Minister John HowEard is supportive and hopes for the best, while Malaysia's Prime Minister MahaEthir Mohamad, the warning voice of moderate Islam, fears for the worst.

The recently re-elected Howard, short on eloquence but often long on solid judgEment, supports U.S. President George W. Bush's instinct about Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, despite polls showing that his countrymen overwhelmingly opEpose pledging Australian forces against Hussein without a clear U.N. resolution and wide international support.

But Howard is for military action reEgardless of any resolution. Hussein, he argues, would never have agreed to a reEsumption of U.N. weapons-site inspecEtions (as flawed as these procedures may be) in the absence of the threat of unilateral U.S.-British military action. Howard supports Washington whether its current aggressive posture is all bluff or serious determination.